Oscillating exercise device for shoulder and core strengthening

Abstract

The disclosed device is an oscillating exercise device for strengthening of the muscles comprising the shoulder and the torso. The device is held in the user's hand and moved in an oscillating manner to simulate a sports specific movement or for muscle strengthening. The device is composed of a tube with internally threaded ends, detachable, threaded end caps, hinged clamshell handle, weight mass and elastic resistance bands. The end caps house springs that extend into the tube when screwed to the ends of the tube. The weight is of a diameter such that it may travel freely along the inner length of the tube, yet closely matched to the inner diameter of the tube such that significant air compression occurs in front of the moving weight. The generated air compression slows the velocity of the traveling weight and reduces the shock of the weight when it impacts the springs at the tube ends. An attachable handle allow for improved simulation of sports specific throwing motions. The elastic resistance bands attach to the tube by way of the clamping handle unit and provide directional resistance during sports related training exercises.

1. An oscillating exercise device, comprising:
 a tube having an internal lumen with internally threaded ends; 
 a weight mass of a size that fits within the internal lumen of the tube such that the weight mass can travel through the internal lumen; 
 two threaded end caps that screw into the internally threaded ends of the tube; 
 two springs coupled to the two threaded end caps such that each threaded end cap has a spring that is located within the internal lumen when each threaded end cap is threadably coupled with the internally threaded ends; 
 one or more elastic resistance bands; and 
 a hinged clamshell handle configured to receive the one or more elastic resistance bands between the tube and the hinged clamshell handle, the hinged clamshell handle including:
 a first handle portion having a first internal surface adapted to receive the tube and one or more elastic resistance bands; 
 a second handle portion having a second internal surface adapted to receive the tube and one or more elastic resistance bands; and 
 one or more hinges coupled to the first and second handle portions such that the first and second handle portions are capable of being in an open orientation to release the tube and one or more elastic resistance bands and being in a closed orientation to grip the tube and one or more elastic resistance bands. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring coupled with the threaded end cap is securely fixed to a base of said cap, and wherein the spring is positioned centrally in relation to the center of radius of the end cap and extends lengthwise parallel to the long axis of the tube when the threaded end cap is attached to said tube. 
     
     
       3. The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged clamshell handle includes a handle that is formed from the first handle portion receiving the second handle portion in the closed orientation such that the handle extends perpendicularly from the tube. 
     
     
       4. The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the end caps each have one or more holes through their bases to allow air to be pushed out and pulled into the internal lumen of the tube during utilization. 
     
     
       5. The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the handle extends about 12 inches from the tube. 
     
     
       6. The exercise device of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is configured to be grasped by a user. 
     
     
       7. The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein the handle is configured similarly to a baseball bat handle. 
     
     
       8. The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the weight mass has a diameter that is about 0.06 inches smaller than a diameter of the internal lumen. 
     
     
       9. The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged clamshell handle includes two hinges. 
     
     
       10. The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle cap that couples the first handle portion with the second handle portion. 
     
     
       11. The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastic resistance bands each have two ends. 
     
     
       12. The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more elastic resistance bands has a length sufficient to wrap around a stationary object and an end received between the tube and the hinged clamshell handle when in the closed orientation. 
     
     
       13. The exercise device of  claim 1 , comprising the one or more elastic resistance bands coupled to the tube with the hinged clamshell handle. 
     
     
       14. A shoulder strengthening exercise comprising:
 providing the oscillating exercise device of  claim 1 ; 
 coupling the one or more elastic resistance bands to a stationary object; 
 coupling the one or more elastic resistance bands with the tube; and 
 stretching the one or more elastic resistance bands by moving the oscillating exercise device. 
 
     
     
       15. The shoulder strengthening exercise of  claim 14 , further comprising oscillating the weight mass within the internal lumen. 
     
     
       16. The shoulder strengthening exercise of  claim 15 , further comprising gripping the hinged clamshell handle like a baseball bat. 
     
     
       17. The shoulder strengthening exercise of  claim 16 , further comprising swinging the oscillating exercise device like a baseball bat. 
     
     
       18. A oscillating exercise device, comprising:
 a tube having an internal lumen with internally threaded ends; 
 a weight mass of a size that fits within the internal lumen of the tube such that the weight mass can travel through the internal lumen; 
 two threaded end caps that screw into the internally threaded ends; 
 two springs coupled to the two threaded end caps such that each threaded end cap has a spring that is located within the internal lumen when each threaded end cap is threaded with the internally threaded ends; and 
 a hinged clamshell handle including:
 a first handle portion having a first internal surface adapted to receive the tube; 
 a second handle portion having a second internal surface adapted to receive the tube; and 
 one or more hinges coupled to the first and second handle portions such that the first and second handle portions are capable of being in an open orientation to release the tube and being in a closed orientation to grip the tube. 
 
 
     
     
       19. A shoulder strengthening exercise comprising:
 providing the oscillating exercise device of  claim 18 ; 
 gripping the hinged clamshell; and 
 oscillating the weight mass within the internal lumen. 
 
     
     
       20. The shoulder strengthening exercise of  claim 19 , further comprising coupling the tube with the hinged clamshell handle such that the first and second handle portions are in the closed orientation prior to gripping the hinged clamshell.